Fence-post driver



(No Model.)

H. VOBAOH.

FENCE POST DRIVER. No. 504,762. Patented Sept. 12, 1893.

I mm mm :MI T I f UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

HERMAN VOBACH, OF PEIVAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

FENCE-POST DRIVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 504,762, dated September 12, 1893.

Application filed May 3, 1893 Serial No. 473,367, (No model.)

To 64% whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN VOBAOH, of Pewaukee, in the county of Waukesha and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Driving Fence-Posts, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine adapted to driving fence posts. The machine for this purpose is so constructed and mounted as to be capable of being readilymoved from place to place, of being quickly adjusted in position for work and easily operated.

The machine is simple in form, and strong and enduring in construction.

The'invention consists in the machine and in its several parts as herein described and claimed, or their equivalents.

In the drawings, Figure 1, is a side elevation of the complete machine; other possible positions of some of the parts being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2, is a top plan view of the complete machine. Figs. 3,4, 5 and 6 are details.

The operative parts of the machine, are, for the purpose of conveniently moving the machine from place to place, mounted on a barrow, comprising a frame A provided with a wheel B, legs 0, handle D and posts E. This barrow considered separately does not require more detailed description, as barrows of similar general construction, are in common use. Two posts F F at alittle distance apart and opposite to each other, are pivoted at their lower extremities respectively to the frame A, near the legs 0, and at a distance to the rear of the wheel B. These posts are provided with a connecting cross beam G at their upper extremities. The posts thus pivoted on the barrow are supported adjustably in upright position by stay rods H H, which rods are hinged at one end to the posts E and at the other end are provided with hooks adapted to take in to apertures therefor in the lugs I I fixed on the posts F F. The series of apertures in these lugs I, some being near to and others farther from the posts F F, are adapted to permit of the adjustment of the posts F F at slightly varying angles to the frame of the barrow.

These means for adjustment of the posts F F at varying angles to the frame of the barrow, adapt the machine more satisfactorily, for use on side hills, or where the land is undulating. Also the stay rods H H are preferably constructed in two parts joined together medially, and adjustably, by coupling nuts or turnbuckles K K. A weight L, located between the posts F F, is provided with laterally projecting guides M, which enter grooves therefor in the inner faces of the posts F F, and move freely vertically between the posts. A cable N secured at one extremity to the weight L runs over a pulley P and winds on a drum R. The puliey P is swiveled to and thereby suspended from the cross beam G, between the posts FF. The axle S of the drum is journaled in brackets T fixed on the posts F F. These brackets T are constructed with axle boxes, the caps of which are on the under side and are removable from the brackets. The weight L is raised and supported releasably by the cable N.

The drum axle S is provided with a crank handle U, loose on the axle. The crank-handle is locked to the axle releasably by a spring actuated bolt V, mounted movably on the handle, the inner extremity of which enters the interdental spaces in the cog Wheel W rigid on the axle S. A short hand-lever V pivoted in the crank-handle U transversely thereof, is connected to the outer extremity of the bolt V and is adapted for actuating the bolt. A laterally projecting stud U rigid on the handle U serves as a support for the hand when also grasping the hand lever V to lift the bolt V out of its seat, in the recessed wheel TV. A brake Y is provided with a stem mounted movably on the crank -handle U, which stem is connected to the hand lever V on the opposite side of the fulcrum, from that to which the bolt V is connected. A cylindrical plate, or disk Y rigid on the axle S serves as a friction bearing for the brake Y. The crank-handle U is loose on the axle between the wheel VV and the disk Y. A ratchet wheel S is rigid on the axle S and a pawl T pivoted 011 a post F engages the ratchet wheel, and prevents the unwinding of the cable N and the running down of the weight. The pawl T is, however, so constructed and mounted as by gravity automatically to release itself from contact with the ratchet wheel S, when not held thereto by actual frictional engagement against a tooth of the wheel. By this construction the drum R can be rotated by means of the handle U, winding up the cable N and raising the weight L to such height as desired, at which point, or at any point, it can be supported by tilting the gravity pawl T into engagement with ratchet wheel S, and when the weight is to be let fall, the operator holding the crank-handle U releases the pawl T, and also lifts the bolt V out of the wheel \V allowing the drum R to rotate and the weight to fall. At the same time that the bolt V is lifted out of the wheel WV by tilting the hand lever V, the movement of the hand-lever V is continued suiiiciently to throw the brake Y against the disk Y with sufficient pressure to prevent the rotation ofthe drum after itis relieved of the strain of the weight, which has come to rest on the post it is driving. This obviates the otherwise undesirable unwinding of the cable on the drum, after the weight falling has reached its destination. A traveler B, in the form of a ring or collar, having laterally projecting elongated parts 0 O which enter the grooves in the inner surfaces of the posts F F, moves freely vertically between the posts. This collaris adapted to be slipped on to the upper end of a fence post X, and to be secured thereto by a holding screw D which turns through the collar against the fence post, forcing it against the spikes or teeth E, on the opposite side of the collar, thus securing the collar firmly to the fence post. By this means the fence post is supported against tilting ortwisting, while it can move endwise when driven under the blows of the weight.

A detachable cross bar F is provided, which being placed on the recessed brackets G G fixed on the posts F F, is adapted to support the weight and prevent its further descent. This cross bar is used for supporting the weight at this point, chiefly when the machine is being moved from place to place. When so to be moved from one 10- cality to another, the posts F F are let down toward the front of the barrow, into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. This brings the weight L a little at the rear of and above the wheel of the barrow, thus balancing and supporting the mechanism in the most desirable position, for easy transportation. It is not, however, necessary to let down the posts F F, when moving the machine a short distance, as from post to post of a fence, but in such case it is sufficient and convenient, to let the weight run down almost or quite to the ends of the posts F F, thus bringing the burden of the weight L close to the ground, and thereby steadying the superstructure, sufficiently for moving the machine a short distance. A plumb H suspended on a post F, provided with a retaining guard I and a sight guide K, enables the operator to adjust the post vertically. Such vertical adjustment can generally be accomplished, even on a hill side, by placing the barrow with its wheel either directly up or down the hill with reference to the leg 0, and thereafter adjusting the posts F vertically by means of the stay rods H.

lVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a barrow, of upright posts pivoted to and supported on the barrow, on which posts a falling weight is mounted, stay-rods hinged to the barrow and having hooks on their free ends, and lugs fixed to the posts and provided with a plurality of apertures for taking the hooks of the stay-rods, substantially as described.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with upright posts, a vertically movable weight, a drum, and a cable attached to the weight running on a pulley and winding on the drum, of a crank-handle loose on the axle of the drum, a recessed wheel rigid on the axle of the drum, a springactuated bolt mounted and movable on the crank-handle adapted to lock the handle to the axle, releasably a brake disk on the drum axle, and a brake mounted on the crank handle movable toward and from the disk and means for forcing the brake against the disk, substantially as described.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination with weight-carrying posts and a cable-winding drum mounted thereon, of a cog wheel and a brake disk fixed on the axle of the drum, a crank-handle loose on said axle, a latch adapted to engage said cog wheel releasably and a brake adapted to bear against said disk releasably, mounted on opposite sides of the crank-handle reciprocally thereof, and a lever-handle pivoted in and transversely of the cranlchandle, to which levei handle the latch and the brake respectively are connected, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HERMAN VOBAOH.

Witnesses:

W. H. THOMAS, GERTRUDE THOMAS. 

